Door glass cassette for vehicles

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an automobile door glass cassette containing a frame and seal assembly and a glass regulator means which is pre-assembled and fitted into an automobile door. The seal assembly is a peripheral elastomeric gasket secured to the outer periphery of the cassette frame structure and is readily fitted into an automotive door structure and assures a tight sealing fit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door glass cassette for motorvehicles which is expediently fitted within a vehicular door structureas on an assembly line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heretofore, automobile door frames and understructures therefor wereassembled on the assembly line piecemeal by individually attaching tothe door the understructure, the window lifting mechanism, and aplurality of individual window seals. Thereafter, the window regulatoror crank mechanism was opertively connected to the lifting mechanism.The procedure was cumbersome and time consuming, especially theinstalling of the individual seals to the window frames in a piecemealmanner. Quite often gaps between the individual window seals existedwhich resulted in undesirable water leaks, noises, and the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,585 discloses an integral hardware module includingwindow glass, window tracks and a regulator mechanism, where the moduleis secured inside the door below the window opening.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,099 discloses a tape driven power windowmodule for raising and lowering a vehicular window while U.S. Pat. No.4,110,935 suggests a take-up mechanism in a cable actuated windowlifting device for automobile side windows.

Patentschrift No. 213247 issued Jan. 25, 1961 and Belgian Patent No.571753 issued Oct. 31, 1958 both disclose a cable actuated system forraising and lowering automobile windows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automobile door glass cassettehaving a frame and seal assembly for a glass window and a glassregulator assembly secured together as a unit and adapted to be quicklyinserted into an automotive door frame on an assembly line. The frameand seal assembly comprises vertical side and top window or glasschannels and a lateral guide means located between the side channels.All of the channels are fitted with interior and exterior seals securedadjacent to the glass opening. The door glass cassette assembly furthercontains a glass regulator assembly secured between the lower part ofside channels below the belt line and is operative to raise and lowerthe glass within the frame and seal assembly. The outer perimeter of theframe and seal assembly is encapsulated with elastomeric material toprovide a resilient peripheral gasket to facilitate easy assembly withinthe door frame and further provide a tight compressive fit within thedoor structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the automobile door glass cassetteof the present invention comprising a frame and seal assembly and aglass regulator assembly;

FIG. 2 is the structure shown in FIG. 1 with the glass regulatorassembly removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along 5--5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevation assembly view of the glass regulatorassembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation assembly view of the door glass cassetteincluding the glass regulator assembly shown in FIG. 1 installed in adoor frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts, an automobile door glass cassette generally indicated by thenumeral 20 comprises a frame and seal assembly 22 generally in the formof a perimeter around a window opening and a glass regulator assembly 24is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7. The door glass cassette 20 is adapted tobe pre-assembled as a unit and readily fitted into place within theautomobile door frame 26 comprising a door panel 28, a center post or Bpillar 30, and a curved overhead molding or header 32, whichcollectively define a window or glass opening in the door structure, asshown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 1 is the door glass cassette 20 of the present invention comprisingthe frame and seal assembly 22 with the glass regulator assembly 24fitted within the door glass cassette and showing a window or glass pane34 partially raised within the glass opening. By the term "glass" pane,it is meant to include other material used or useful in windows such asvarious plastics, usually transparent, and the like. The frame and sealassembly 22 is separate from the regulator assembly 24 and generallycomprises a continuous U-shape channel and desirably constitutes acontinuous perimeter frame 35. The perimeter channel frame comprises apair of laterally spaced vertical side channels 36, and a top channel 38to provide structural framework in which the window pane is operativelyraised or lowered. Each side channel 36 has the open U-shape structuredirected inwardly toward the glass opening while the top channel 38 hasthe open U-shape inverted and directed downwardly toward the glassopening. The lower dimension or belt line of the glass opening in theframe and seal assembly 22 is defined by a lateral guide opening meansadapted to permit the glass pane 34 to pass freely between an insidelateral Z-member 40 and an outside lateral I-member 42 having a shortvertical height which together define a narrow transverse openinglaterally disposed between the Z-member 40 and I-member 42 as shown inFIG. 5. The members are generally made of metal such as steel but can bemolded polymeric matrix composites such as fiber reinforced compositescontaining glass fibers, metal fibers, carbon fibers or polymeric fiberssuch as nylon or polyester and a binder matrix resin such as epoxyresin. Side U-channels 36, the top inverted U-channel 38 and the lateralguide members 40,42 collectively define the glass opening and eachcontain cooperative sealing elements of polymeric material adapted toseal the glass pane 34 on the inside and outside thereof when the glasspane is fully closed and to guide the glass pane with regard to itsfront leading edge and rear trailing edge as it is raised or loweredwithin the glass opening in the door glass cassette 20.

Referring to the U-shape side channels 36, as seen in FIG. 6, eachchannel 36 has an inside extension 36a and an outside extension 36b onwhich the sealing elements are secured in a cooperative mode to engagethe glass pane 34. An interior seal 44 is secured to the insideextension 36a and comprises a solid, generally rigid member 46 having arecess slot securely engaging the extension 36a and a flexible hollowextension member 48 in the shape of a hollow-bulb secured to the solidmember 46 and protruding outwardly toward the glass pane 34 where theflexible hollow bulb-like seal member 48 is adapted to engage and sealagainst the inside of the pane. The hollow bulb-like member 48, whichmay be solid or porous (e.g. sponge-like), is sufficiently resilient tohold its general protruding bulbous shape and yet is sufficientlyflexible to slightly collapse internally while tightly and slidablyengaging the glass pane 34. As shown in FIG. 4, the interior seal isgenerally not included below the window belt line or the lateral guidemeans comprising Z-member 40 and I-member 42. That is, the lower portionof channels 36a, 36b only require a glass run channel 56 in conjunctionwith an exterior seal 50 having a base member which encases outsidechannel extension 36b. Inside seal 44 is generally made from anelastomer such as EPDM of dual durometer where rigid member 46 has ahigh durometer hardness such as from about 80 to about 90 whereas thebulb-like protruding member 48 has a low durometer hardness such as fromabout 50 to about 70. Other suitable polymers include variousthermoplastic olefins such as copolymers made from ethylene andpropylene monomers having a high content of ethylene repeating unitstherein, polyethylene, and the like; various elastomers such asstyrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, various styrene-butadienerubbers, neoprene, various blends of polypropylene and EPDM(ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer) rubber, and the like.

An exterior seal 50 is secured to the outside extension 36b of theU-shape side channel 36 where the exterior seal 50 comprises a basemember 52 with a recess secured to extension 36b and a resilient stemmember 54 extending away from the base member 52 and curved slightlytoward the glass pane 34. The stem member 54 terminates with a tapereddistal end which is inwardly curved and resiliently and slidably engagesand seals against the glass pane 34. Desirably, exterior seal 50 iscoextruded and contains low friction inner portion 51A and a flexibleouter portion 51B. The exterior seal 50 further contains a C-shaperesilient, low friction channel 56 which acts as a glass run channel andis located between inside extension 36a and outside extension 36b of theside channel 36. The outer portion 51B and channel 56 preferably is amaterial of a tough but slippery weather resistant thermoplastic such aspolypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and ionomer resins such as surlyn,and various thermoplastic olefins such as various physical blends ofpolyethylene and polypropylene, and the like, whereas inner portion 51Ais a flexible member such as a thermoplastic elastomer, for examplevarious blends of polypropylene and EPDM, and the like. Glass runchannel 56 generally extends the vertical length of each side U-channels36 and is adapted to surround the peripheral front and rear edge of theglass pane 34 as well as provide a lateral stabilizing guide as theglass is raised and lowered. Both side U-channels 36 generally containthe same combination of sealing elements.

The inverted U-shape, top channel portion, as shown in FIG. 3, hassealing members which are essentially identical to the side channelsealing members with said description thereof being hereby fullyincorporated by reference and preferably is a continuous extensionthereof. Thus, top U-channel portion 38 contains an inverted insideextension 38a' and outside extension 38b' extending downwardly anddefining the inverted U-shape construction. Similarly, interior seal 44'is secured to inside vertical extension 38a' and comprises a solid,generally rigid member 46' having a recess slot which securely engagesextension 38a' and a flexible hollow extension member 48' which isadapted to engage and seal against the inside of glass pane 34. Exteriorseal 50' comprises a base member 52' with a recess secured to verticalextension 38b' and a resilient stem member 54' which resiliently andslidably engages the outside of glass pane 34. Seat 56 which is anintegral part of exterior seal 50' resides within the uppermost portionof U-channel 38 and is contacted by glass pane 34 upon full closurethereof. The portions of the seal depicted in FIG. 3 engage the upperhorizontal portion of the glass pane only when it is in a closedposition and secures a tight weather-proof seal.

As noted, the lower end of the glass opening is formed by the lateralchannel guide means comprising the transversely spaced inside Z-member40 and outside I-member 42 which are welded or otherwise securedlaterally between and to the vertical side U-channels 36, 36. The insideZ-member 40 contains an inside upright extension 40a fitted with aninterior belt line seal 60 containing rigid base member 62 secured toextension 40a and an outwardly directed flexible hollow bulb 64, whichare essentially of the same construction as described for the interiorseal 44 secured to the side U-channels 36. The outside I-member 42contains an upwardly extending structure terminating in an invertedJ-structure 66 adapted to overlap the adjacent edge of the door panel28. The inverted J-structure 66 is fitted with a resilient exterior beltline seal 70 comprising a base member 72 secured to the invertedJ-structure 66 and an upwardly directed tapered stem 74 curved slightlyinwardly toward the glass pane 34 and adapted to engage and seal theoutside surface of the glass pane 34. The exterior belt line seal 70contains an inner portion 71A and an outer portion 71B. The belt lineseal 70, which is essentially of the same construction as exterior seal50 with said description thereof being hereby fully incorporated byreferences, is secured to the vertical U-channels 36. Thus, the interiorbelt line seal 60 and the exterior belt line seal 70 cooperate to engageand seal the interior and exterior surfaces respectively of the glasspane 34 passing between the lateral channel guide means defined by theZ-member 40 and I-member 42 and effect a good weather seal therewith.Moreover, the belt line exterior seal 70 can have a cosmetic covering(not shown) thereon such as a suitable plastic, for example,polyurethane, and can be color coordinated with the vehicle.

Referring now to the glass regulator assembly 24 for raising andlowering the glass pane 34 within the automobile door, as best seen inFIG. 1 the regulator assembly 24 comprises the glass pane 34, a backmounting plate 76 which may be integral with U-shape channels 36, anX-pulley cable system operative to raise and lower the glass pane 34,and an actuating means for operating the cable system. The cable systemas shown in FIG. 7 comprises a continuous cable or belt having internalcriss-cross members 78,78 and laterally spaced vertical run members80,80 engaging a pair of similarly spaced upper pulley wheels 82 andlower pulley wheels 84 where the vertical cable members 80,80simultaneously advance upwardly or retract downwardly. At the lowerperiphery of glass pane 34, a pair of laterally spaced grommets 86,86are adapted to be secured to the generally vertically orientated cablemembers 80,80 by a fastening means 88,88 secured to the vertical members80,80. Optionally, a lateral stabilizing bar 90 is secured between thefastening means 88,88 to maintain the lateral distance between thevertical members 80,80 in addition to equalizing strain and supportingthe glass pane 34. Lateral stabilizing bar 90 is approximatelyhorizontal but can be skewed somewhat to accommodate the specific glasspane 34 configuration. The upper pulley wheels 82,82 and the lowerpulley wheels 84,84 are operatively secured to the back mounting plate76 by way of matching holes 92,92 and 94,94, respectively, located nearthe four corners of the mounting plate 76 and secured by bolt means orthe like. At the center of the X-cable system where the internal members78,78 criss-cross, a cam means 96 is attached to the end points ofcriss-cross members 78,78 to provide the coordinated simultaneous upwardor downward movement of the vertical members 80,80.

Cam means 96 is attached to a window glass crank, not shown, oroptionally to drive shaft 100 of an electric motor 98. The motor 98 issecured to the backside of the mounting plate 76 by bolts securedthrough a plurality of bolt holes surrounding a central opening 102adapted to permit the drive shaft 100 to pass through and be secured tothe cam means 96 on the front side of the mounting plate 76.

Upon rotation of the drive shaft 100, the glass pane 34 moves upwardlyor downwardly in conjunction with the vertical members 80,80. In orderto prevent the glass pane 34 from freely dropping while lowering theglass pane 34, a ratchet type spring mechanism 104 is mounted on theupper part of the back mounting plate 76. The ratchet spring mechanism104 permits the glass pane 34 to be raised unimpeded but tension in thespring is activated upon the glass pane 34 being lowered to prevent thesame from falling freely. In the operation of the X-cable system, thelaterally spaced vertical members 80,80 follow the path of the glasspane 34. If the vertical glass run channels are not straight but curved,the vertical members 80,80 will not maintain a straight vertical linebut instead will following the curvature of the glass run channel 36.Hence, additional cable length is required upon raising and lowering theglass pane 34 and this is provided by a tension spring means 106 locatedwithin the cable system.

In accordance with the present invention, the glass regulator assemblycan be preassembled and then attached to the frame and seal assembly 22by welding or otherwise securing the back mounting plate 76 to thelaterally spaced side U-channels 36,36 at the lower section of the frameand seal assembly 22. The back mounting plate 76 remains stationaryrelative to the frame and seal assembly 22 while the glass pane 34 isoperative to be raised or lowered within the vertical side U-channels36,36 of the frame and seal assembly 22. Thus, the frame and sealassembly 22 and glass regulator assembly 24 are secured together toprovide an integral unitary cassette construction comprising theautomobile door glass cassette 20 of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the assembled door glasscassette 20 comprising the frame and seal assembly 22 and the glassregulator assembly 24 operatively secured together is encapsulated witha peripheral gasket of resilient elastomeric material to provide acontinuous gasket 108 on the outside perimeter of the frame assembly 22.When on the exterior of the frame assembly, the gasket 108 provides acosmetic covering. The elastomeric gasket 108 is particularly adapted tofacilitate an easy snap-in procedure on an assembly line for installingthe door glass cassette 20 within an automobile door structure 26. Theperipheral elastomeric gasket 108 further provides tight alignmentwithin the door structure 26, a crack-free integral seal, as well asnoise reduction of the wind passing thereover.

The structure of the elastomeric gasket means is best seen in FIG. 6with respect to the vertical side U-channels 36,36 and in FIG. 3 withrespect to the top channel 38. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showinga horizontal cross-section view of the frame and seal assembly 22. InFIG. 6, the gasket 108 integrally comprises an enlarged base section 110secured to the backside or base part of U-channel 36, an internalsection 112 encasing most of the otherwise exposed exterior surface ofthe rigid member 46 of the interior seal 44, and a narrowed exteriorsection 114 encasing most of the distal end 54 of the base member 52 ofthe external seal 50. In a similar manner, FIG. 3 illustrates a verticalcross-section of the top U-channel 38. The gasket 108 similarlycomprises an integral construction having the base section 110 securedto the backside of the base of the inverted top U-channel 38, aninternal section 112 and a narrowed external section 114. Thus, thegasket means 108 substantially encapsulates the side U-channels 36,36and the top U-channel 38 in such a manner as to provide an integralframe and seal assembly 22 which is especially useful in assembling thedoor glass cassette 20 within the automobile door structure 26. The base110 and internal 112 sections provide a right angle gasket of thenecessary elastomeric thickness to facilitate sliding insertion into thedoor structure 26 and provide a compressive engagement therewith. Ifdesired, a plastic trim strip comprising a mold strip 120, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, can be added to stem member 54 of the exterior seal 50for purposes of styling. Gasket material 108 can be a semi-rigid,resilient elastomeric material such as generally a thermosetpolyurethane. Such materials are well known to the art and to theliterature. The peripheral elastomeric gasket 108 is applied to theupper perimeter of the frame structure 22 but typically not below thebelt line Z-member and I-member unless desired. The upper portion of thewindow frame and seal assembly 22 as from the belt line to top channel38 can be placed in a perimeter mold having an interior cavity toaccommodate the desired structure of the gasket 108 to be formed. Liquidpolyurethane can be injected into the perimeter mold to encapsulate thebackside of the respective U-channels 36,36,38 as well as partiallyencapsulate portions of the interior seals 44,44,60 and exterior seals50,50,70 as previously described. The liquid polyurethane is then curedunder heat to produce a resilient solid thermoset polyurethane gasket108. Generally, gasket 108 is formed by reaction injection moldingcompounds (i.e., RIM) such as various polyesters, various polysulfides,various nylons, and the like. Such polymers are known to the art as wellas to the literature. The belt line channel means formed by thetransversely spaced Z-member and I-member are also generally encasedwith elastomeric material. The resulting elastomeric encapsulated andintegral automobile door glass cassette 20 is easily and quickly slippedor installed into an automobile door structure 26 during assembly.

An important aspect of the present invention is that the offset from theexterior surface 115 of exterior gasket section 114 to the exteriorsurface of the window pane 34 is generally very small and can be on theorder of from about 3 millimeters to about 6 millimeters and in thepresent embodiment is approximately 4 millimeters. Such small offsetdistances are provided by the integral frame and seal assembly 22 whichpermits the window pane 34 to reside in glass run channel 56 in closeproximity to exterior seal 52. The small offset exists not only withregard to the exterior belt line seal 70, but also with regard toexterior seal 50 which exists in the header portion of the window aswell as the generally vertical side channels and thus provides an entireframe and seal assembly 22 which has very low wind resistance from anaerodynamic standpoint in association with glass pane 34. An aesthetic,clean-finish window is thus provided which is also very desirous from astyling standpoint.

In an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the encapsulated frame and sealstructure 22 can further include side panels on either side of the glassopening. The left or rearward panel in the drawings is shown as anelongated vertical panel 116 while the right or forward panel comprisesa triangular mirror panel 118. Both panels 116, 118 comprise a polymerbase such as polyurethane connected to the respective U-channel 36,whereupon both the vertical panel 116 and the mirror panel 118 can beencapsulated with elastomeric material within appropriate die cavitiesprovided in connection with the perimeter mold for curing theelastomeric material.

The cassette-like structure 20 of the present invention can be simplyslipped into an existing car door structure 26 and attached thereto bysnapping the top portion, as well as the side portions, of theencapsulated frame and seal structure 22 into place and securing thevarious portion with plastic rivets or the like having unidirectionalflanges thereon. Alternatively, adhesives or liquid seals can beutilized.

Although the present invention has been described in respect to a doorglass cassette for an automobile door, it is readily seen that the unitcan be adapted to be used in any type of vehicle containing a window.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, the best mode andpreferred embodiment has been set forth, the scope of the invention isnot limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A door glass cassette adapted to be fitted withinand secured to a vehicular door structure to provide a raisable andlowerable glass window, said door glass cassette, comprising;a frame andseal assembly comprising two laterally spaced side channels adapted toprovide vertical runs for raising and lowering the glass pane, a topchannel extending between the side channels at the top of each said sidechannel, and lateral guide means comprising transversely spaced lateralguides secured between said side channals, said lateral guide meansbeing a Z-shape inside channel and a short vertical height I-shapeoutside channel, said channels and guide means collectively defining aglass opening in said door glass cassette, each said channel and saidguide means having secured thereto an interior seal and an exterior sealadapted to cooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glassopening.
 2. A door glass cassette according to claim 1, including meansfor raising and lowering said door glass, and means for connecting saidraising and lowering means with said door glass.
 3. A door glasscassette according to claim 1, wherein said side channels are U-shapechannels having said open U-shape structure facing toward the glassopening, and wherein the top channel is an inverted U-channel havingsaid open U-shape structure facing downward.
 4. A door glass cassetteaccording to claim 3, wherein said U-shape structures of said sidechannels and said top channel comprises an inside extension, anintermediate base, and an outside extension, wherein said interior sealis secured to said inside extension and wherein said exterior seal issecured to said outside extension of said channel.
 5. A door glasscassette according to claim 4, wherein said exterior seal comprises abase section secured to said inside extension of said U-channel, whereinsaid base section of said exterior seal extends outwardly from saidinside extension into a tapered stem member orientated toward andadapted to seal the outside surface of the glass pane.
 6. A door glasscassette according to claim 4, wherein said interior seal comprises asolid member secured to said inside extension and a flexible membersecured to said solid member, wherein said flexible member comprises ahollow bulb-like structure, said rigid member having a higher durometerthan said flexible member, and wherein said flexible member isorientated toward and adapted to engage the inside surface of the glasspane in the raised position.
 7. A door glass cassette according to claim6, wherein said rigid member has a durometer hardness of from about 80to about 90 and wherein said flexible member has a durometer hardness offrom about 50 to about
 70. 8. A door glass cassette according to claim4, wherein said inside Z-channel has an upwardly directed extension,wherein said interior seal is secured to said Z-channel upwardextension, and wherein said transversely spaced I-channel has saidexterior seal secured thereto.
 9. A door glass cassette according toclaim 8, including means for reaising and lowering said door glass, andmeans for connecting said raising and lowering means with said doorglass.
 10. A door glass cassette according to claim 8, wherein saidexterior seal secured to said I-channel comprises a base section securedto the upper end of said I-channel, wherein said base section extendsupwardly from said base section into a tapered stem member orientatedtoward and adapted to seal the outside surface of the glass pane.
 11. Adoor glass cassette according to claim 10, wherein said interior sealsecured to said upward extension of said Z-channel comprises a solidmember secured to said upward extension and a flexible member secured tosaid solid member orientated toward and adapted to engage the insidesurface of the glass pane, said rigid member having a higher durometerthan said flexible member.
 12. A door glass cassette according to claim11, wherein said flexible member comprises a hollow bulb-like structure.13. A door glass cassette according to claim 11, including means forraising and lowering said door glass, and means for connecting saidraising and lowering means with said door glass.
 14. A door glasscassette adapted to be fitted within and secured to a vehicular doorstructure to provide a raisable and lowerable glass window, said doorglass cassette, comprising:a frame and seal assembly comprising twolaterally spaced side channels adapted to provide vertical runs forraising and lowering the glass pane, a top channel extending between theside channels at the top of each said side channel, and lateral guidemeans comprising transversely spaced lateral guides secured between saidside channels, said channels and guide means collectively defining aglass opening in said door glass cassette, each said channel and saidguide means having secured thereto an interior seal and an exterior sealadapted to cooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glassopening, said channels being U-shaped channels having said open U-shapedstructure facing toward the glass opening, the top channel being aninverted U-channel and having said open U-shape structure facingdownward, said U-shape structures of said side channels and said topchannel comprising an inside extension, an intermediate base, and anoutside extension, said interior seal being secured to said insideextension and said exterior seal being secured to said outside extensionof said channel, and wherein said exterior seal contains a C-shape glassrun channel located between said inside extension and said outsideextension and within said U-shape side channel.
 15. A door glasscassette according to claim 14, including means for raising and loweringsaid door glass, and means for connecting said raising and loweringmeans with said door glass.
 16. A door glass cassette adapted to befitted within and secured to a vehicular door structure to provide araisable and lowerable glass window, said door glass cassette,comprising:a frame and seal assembly comprising two laterally spacedside channels adapated to provide vertical runs for raising and loweringthe glass pane, a top channel extending between the side channels at thetop of each said side channel, and lateral guide means comprisingtransversely spaced lateral guides secured between said side channels,said channels and guide means collectively defining a glass opening insaid door glass cassette, each said channel and said guide means havingsecured thereto an interior seal and an exterior seal adapted tocooperatively engage said glass pane adjacent to said glass opening,said side channels being U-shape channels having said open U-shapestructure facing toward the glass opening, said top channel being aninverted U-channel and having said open U-shape struture facingdownward, said U-shape structures of said side channels and said topchannels comprising an inside extension, an intermediate base, and anoutside extension, said interior seal being secured to said insideextension and said exterior seal being secured to said outside extensionof said channel, and said frame and seal assembly including an externalperimeter surface defined by said side U-channels and said top channel,and said external perimeter surface being encased by an elastomericmaterial to provide a peripheral gasket.
 17. A door glass cassetteaccording to claim 16, including means for raising and lowering saiddoor glass, and means for connecting said raising and lowering meanswith said door glass.
 18. A door glass cassette according to claim 16,wherein said peripheral gasket is secured to said external perimetersurface of the upper section of said frame and seal assembly, andwherein said upper section of the frame structure is approximately abovesaid lateral guide.
 19. A door glass cassette according to claim 18,wherein said interior seal is secured to said inside extension and saidexterior seal is secured to said outside extension, and wherein at leasta portion of said interior seal and said exterior seal are encasedwithin said elastomeric gasket.
 20. A door glass cassette according toclaim 19, wherein said elastomeric gasket comprises an enlarged basesection secured to the intermediate base of said U-channel.
 21. A doorglass cassette according to claim 19, wherein said elastomeric gasketcomprises an enlarged base section secured to said intermediate base ofsaid U-channel, an enlarged inside section secured to said insideextension of said U-channel and covering portions of said interior sealsecured to said U-channel, and a narrow outside section secured to saidoutside extension of said U-channel and covering only a distal end ofsaid exterior seal secured to said outside extension.
 22. A door glasscassette according to claim 21, wherein said elastomeric materialcomprising said peripheral gasket is polyurethane elastomer.
 23. A doorglass cassette according to claim 22, including means for raising andlowering said door glass, and means for connecting raising and loweringmeans with said door glass.
 24. A door glass cassette adapted tomatingly engage a vehicle door structure, comprising:an integral frameand seal assembly, said frame assembly having a perimeter channel, saidperimeter channel comprising two side channels and a top channeltherebetween, said perimeter channel having an inside extension and anoutside extension, said seal assembly comprising an interior sealmounted on said perimeter channel inside extension and an exterior sealmounted on said perimeter channel outside extension, said interior sealand said exterior seal being secured to said frame and seal assemblyadjacent to the glass opening and being capable of engaging said glasspane and effecting a weather seal.
 25. A door glass cassette accordingto claim 24, including means for raising and lowering said door glass,and means for connecting said raising and lowering means with said doorglass.
 26. A door glass cassette according to claim 24, wherein saidseal assembly has a glass run channel seal, said glass run channel seallocated between said exterior seal and said interior seal.
 27. A doorglass cassette according to claim 26, including a lateral channel guideproviding an opening through which a glass pane can be raised andlowered, said lateral channel guide extending between said two sidechannels and secured thereto, said channel guide and said perimeterchannel defining a glass opening.
 28. A door glass cassette adapted tomatingly engage a vehicle door structure, comprising:an integral frameand seal assembly, said frame assembly having perimeter channel, saidperimeter channel comprising two side channels and a top channeltherebetween, said seal assembly comprising an interior seal mounted onsaid perimeter channel and an exterior seal mounted on said perimeterchannel, said internal seal and said exterior seal being capable ofengaging a glass pane and effecting a weather seal, a gasket, saidgasket existing on the base of said perimeter channel and partiallyencapsulated said exterior seal and said interior seal and forming saidintegral frame and seal assembly.
 29. A door glass cassette according toclaim 28, including means for raising and lowering said door glass, andmeans for connecting said raising and lowering means with said doorglass.
 30. A door glass cassette according to claim 28, wherein saidglass run channel is integral with said exterior seal.
 31. A door glasscassette according to claim 30, wherein said interior seal comprises arigid base member secured to said perimeter channel and a flexiblehollow portion capable of matingly engaging the glass pane.
 32. A doorglass cassette according to claim 31, including means for raising andlowering said door glass, and means for connecting said raising andlowering means with said door glass.
 33. A door glass cassette accordingto claim 31, wherein the interior portion of said exterior seal is madeof polypropylene.
 34. A door glass cassette according to claim 33,wherein said gasket material is made from a thermoplastic polyurethane.35. A door glass cassette according to claim 33, wherein said perimeterchannel is a U-shape channel, wherein said interior seal engages one legof said U-shape channel, and wherein said exterior seal engages theremaining leg of said U-shape channel.
 36. A door glass cassetteaccording to claim 31, wherein said interior seal is made from a dualdurometer EPDM.
 37. A door glass cassette according to claim 36,including means for raising and lowering said door glass, and means forconnecting said raising and lowering means with said door glass.
 38. Adoor glass cassette adapted to be fitted in a vehicular door structure,comprising:a door glass; a frame and seal assembly for said door glass,comprising: two laterally-spaced side channels adapted to providevertical runs for said door glass, a top channel extending between thetops of said side channels, transversely-spaced lateral guide meansbetween and secured to said side channels, each of said side channelsand said top channel having an inside extension and an outsideextension, said interior seal secured to said inside extension and saidexterior seal secured to said outside extension, said seals beingadapted to operatively engage said door glass, said side channels, topchannel and lateral guide means collectively defining a door glassopening; means for raising and lowering said door glass; and meansconnecting said raising and lowering means with said door glass.